686 Competitor front sight

rhodesengr · Jul 12, 2021

I would like to replace the OEM front sight on my 686 Competitor with a fiber optic type. I did some searching last week and found sources like LPA and Protocall. LPA has a red one but not available until September. PD has not yet replied to some messages and I don't see a phone number on their website.

Any other sources?

Needs to be the dovetail type base.

colt_saa · Jul 12, 2021

Welcome to the Forum

There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of companies that make sights.

I would be looking at HiViz for a Fiber Optic front sight, then there is SDM.

LPA rounds out my three favorites.

I have the LPA fiber optic 3 dot set on my 627

LPA makes a VERY High Quality product. If they offer what you like, I might be willing to wait for it

rhodesengr · Jul 12, 2021

Well there may well be 100's of possible sources but if I can't find them on Google or someone here doesn't mention them, I have no way to find them. I spent quite a bit of time searching and reading older threads in forums. So if you know some other specific sources besides the ones I already found, I will certainly take a look. I also emailed some places like Midway and Midwest. They don't carry anything.

HiViz does not list one for the 686 Comp. They do have one for my 617 so I have ordered that.

LPA does but not available for a few months.

I just looked at SDM and they do not have one for the 686 Comp.

The more common pinned sights are not applicable as the the base is a dovetail that must be pressed in against an interference fit

I have now connected with Protocall and have ordered one of theirs.

I am still open to looking at others.

DTH · Jul 12, 2021

Try Dawson Precision

rhodesengr · Jul 12, 2021

DTH said:
Try Dawson Precision

I did. They said they weren't sure which size dovetail fit the 686 and asked me to measure the base of the dovetail. That didn't leave me with an especially "warm and fuzzy" feeling that they had a product known to be the correct size. I can't accurately measure the dovetail without knocking it out and I don't want to do that just to measure it. I told them I could send them an estimated measurement based on "eyeballing" my caliper at the edges of the groove which looked like .380 (but could have been a few mil in either direction). I have not heard back.

I liked the Protocall product because it specifically was listed as for the 686 Comp. They were also very helpful on the phone today. I asked if I would have to work the part and if so then the best method to use. Interference fits are tricky, especially if you don't have a real machine shop and the correct tooling. Honestly, I will be a little nervous when it comes time to knock the OEM one out and knock the new one in. There is also the matter of centering. Just have to use my caliper and get it as good as possible and then site it in at the range.

rhodesengr · Jul 13, 2021

Dawson just wrote back and confirmed they do not have one that fits the 686 Comp. So hopefully, the Protocall Design one works out. Anyone here have that one?

PatriotX · Jul 13, 2021

Protocol Design made me a sight that was NLA from Smith for a 686 CS1.

They’ll take care of you.

__steve__ · Jul 13, 2021

Ordering from HiViz is a little pricey, but Midway (much better prices) might have the HiViz fiber optic green or red in your frame in stock. HiViz also has a Tritium sight option for some S&W frames, called H3, the Green dot supposed to be visible at night. I think those are like $50 though

686 Competitor front sight

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